A portable entertainment system for a vehicle includes a portable housing, a transceiver, a processor, a memory, and a rechargeable battery. The transceiver communicates through RF signals with Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs) operated by vehicle passengers. The rechargeable battery supplies power to the transceiver, the processor, and the memory. The memory is coupled to the processor and includes entertainment content and further includes computer readable program code that causes the processor to communicate a list, of at least some of the entertainment content available in the memory, to the PEDs. A content selection message is received through the transceiver from one of the PEDs that requests communication of a selected one of the entertainment content identified in the list. The selected entertainment content is communicated through the transceiver to the PED. The transceiver, the processor, and the memory are enclosed within the portable housing.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A portable in-flight entertainment system for an aircraft, comprising: a portable housing comprising a crew portable canister transportable onto the aircraft; a transceiver configured to communicate through radio frequency (RF) signals with Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs) operated by passengers; at least one processor; at least one memory, wherein the at least one memory is coupled to the at least one processor and comprises entertainment content and further comprises computer readable program code executed by the at least one processor to perform operations comprising: communicating a list, of at least some of the entertainment content available in the at least one memory, to the PEDs; receiving a content selection message through the transceiver from one of the PEDs that requests communication of a selected one of the entertainment content identified in the list; and communicating the selected one of the entertainment content through the transceiver to the one of the PEDs; and wherein the transceiver, the at least one processor, and the at least one memory are enclosed within the portable housing.
A portable in-flight entertainment system for aircraft includes a portable housing (transportable canister). A transceiver communicates wirelessly (RF) with passenger devices (PEDs). A processor runs program code stored in memory. The program code sends a list of available entertainment content to the PEDs, receives requests for selected content, and transmits the selected content back to the requesting PED. The transceiver, processor, and memory are all inside the portable housing. The canister is intended for airline crew to easily move and set up.
2. The portable in-flight entertainment system of claim 1 , wherein the crew portable canister is configured to be stored on a catering rack of a service galley of the aircraft.
The portable in-flight entertainment system of the previous description includes a crew portable canister configured to be stored on a catering rack within a service galley of the aircraft. This specifies a common storage location on the aircraft for the entertainment system's canister.
3. The portable in-flight entertainment system of claim 1 , wherein the crew portable canister comprises a metal layer that encloses the transceiver, the at least one processor, and the at least one memory, the metal layer of the crew portable canister at least partially shielding RF emissions from the transceiver and the at least one processor; and the portable entertainment system further comprises an antenna configured to transmit and receive RE signals between the transceiver and the PEDs operated by passengers, wherein the antenna is mounted to an exterior surface of the crew portable canister.
The portable in-flight entertainment system includes a metal layer enclosing the transceiver, processor, and memory within the portable housing. The metal layer partially blocks RF emissions. An antenna, mounted on the outside of the housing, transmits and receives RF signals between the transceiver and passenger devices (PEDs). This provides RF shielding and external antenna placement for better wireless range.
4. The portable in-flight entertainment system of claim 3 , wherein: the crew portable canister is configured to be stored on a catering rack of a service galley of the aircraft; and the antenna, is mounted to a front exterior surface of the crew portable canister facing away from the catering rack while the crew portable canister is stored on the catering rack.
The portable in-flight entertainment system includes a crew portable canister configured to be stored on a catering rack within a service galley of the aircraft. The antenna is mounted on the front exterior surface of the canister, facing away from the catering rack when stored. This antenna placement optimizes wireless signal propagation while the canister is in its designated storage location. The metal layer partially blocks RF emissions from components within the housing.
5. The portable in-flight entertainment system of claim 3 , further comprising a rechargeable battery that supplies power to the transceiver, the at least one processor and the at least one memory, wherein the crew portable canister has an access door that is configured to inhibit external escape of gasses from inside the crew portable canister in case of burning of the rechargeable battery.
The portable in-flight entertainment system includes a rechargeable battery powering the transceiver, processor, and memory. The portable housing has an access door that prevents gases from escaping if the battery catches fire. This is a safety feature to contain battery combustion events within the canister.
6. The portable in-flight entertainment system of claim 1 , further comprising a rechargeable battery that supplies power to the transceiver, the at least one processor and the at least one memory, wherein the operations further comprise: monitoring remaining power of the rechargeable battery; and controlling a level of service, that is provided to at least some of the PEDs for communication of the electronic content, responsive to the remaining power of the rechargeable battery.
The portable in-flight entertainment system includes a rechargeable battery that powers the transceiver, processor, and memory. The system monitors the battery's remaining power. Based on remaining power, the system controls the level of service (e.g., bandwidth, features) provided to passenger devices (PEDs). This manages power consumption to extend battery life.
7. The portable in-flight entertainment system of claim 6 , wherein the controlling a level of service, that is provided to at least some of the PEDs for communication of the electronic content, responsive to the remaining power of the rechargeable battery, comprises: reducing bandwidth provided through the transceiver for communicating entertainment content from the at least one memory to at least some of the PEDs responsive to the remaining power of the rechargeable battery no longer satisfying a defined threshold.
The portable in-flight entertainment system controls the level of service provided to passenger devices (PEDs) based on remaining battery power by reducing the bandwidth available for streaming content to some or all devices when the battery level drops below a threshold. This prioritizes battery life by limiting high-bandwidth activities when power is low.
8. The portable in-flight entertainment system of claim 6 , wherein the controlling a level of service, that is provided to at least some of the PEDs for communication of the electronic content, responsive to the remaining power of the rechargeable battery, comprises: reducing the level of service provided to at least some of the PEDs responsive to the remaining power of the rechargeable battery no longer satisfying a defined threshold, by ceasing streaming of video content while continuing to allow downloading of application programs from the at least one memory for execution on the at least some of the PEDs to conserve remaining power of the rechargeable battery.
The portable in-flight entertainment system controls the level of service provided to passenger devices (PEDs) based on remaining battery power by stopping video streaming but continuing to allow app downloads when the battery drops below a threshold. This conserves battery power by disabling video streaming while still enabling other entertainment features.
9. The portable in-flight entertainment system of claim 6 , wherein the controlling a level of service, that is provided to at least some of the PEDs for communication of the electronic content, responsive to the remaining power of the rechargeable battery, comprises: associating the PEDs into a plurality of groups having different priority levels; and reducing the level of service provided to PEDs in one of the groups while keeping unchanged the level of service provided to PEDs in another of the groups responsive to the remaining power of the rechargeable battery no longer satisfying a defined threshold.
The portable in-flight entertainment system controls the level of service provided to passenger devices (PEDs) based on remaining battery power by grouping PEDs into priority levels and reducing service for lower-priority groups while maintaining service for higher-priority groups when the battery level drops below a threshold. This allows preferential treatment for certain users.
10. The portable in-flight entertainment system of claim 1 , further comprising a pressure altimeter connected to the at least one processor; wherein the operations further comprise: selectively turning off the transceiver responsive to a signal from the pressure altimeter.
The portable in-flight entertainment system includes a pressure altimeter connected to the processor. The system selectively turns off the transceiver based on the altimeter's signal. This allows the system to disable wireless communication during specific flight phases.
11. The portable in-flight entertainment system of claim 10 , wherein the selectively turning off the transceiver responsive to a signal from the pressure altimeter, comprises: determining an altitude within a cabin of the aircraft in which the portable entertainment system resides, responsive to the signal from the pressure altimeter; tracking changes in the altitude; determining a present flight phase responsive to the tracked changes in the altitude; providing power to the transceiver responsive to the present flight phase being a first defined flight phase; and ceasing providing power to the transceiver responsive to the present flight phase being a second defined flight phase that is different than the first flight phase.
The portable in-flight entertainment system uses a pressure altimeter to determine the aircraft's cabin altitude, tracks altitude changes to determine the flight phase, and then controls transceiver power. Power is provided to the transceiver during a first flight phase and cut off during a different, second flight phase.
12. A portable in-flight entertainment system for an aircraft, comprising: a portable housing; a transceiver configured to communicate through radio frequency (RE) signals with Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs) operated by aircraft passengers; at least one processor; at least one memory; and a rechargeable battery that supplies power to the transceiver, the at least one processor and the at least one memory, wherein the at least one memory is coupled to the at least one processor and comprises entertainment content and further comprises computer readable program code executed by the at least one processor to perform operations comprising: communicating to the PEDs a list of at least some of the entertainment content available in the at least one memory; receiving a content selection message through the transceiver from one of the PEDs that requests communication of a selected one of the entertainment content identified in the list; communicating the selected one of the entertainment content through the transceiver to the one of the PEDs; monitoring remaining power of the rechargeable battery; and controlling a level of service, that is provided to at least some of the PEDs for communication of the electronic content, responsive to the remaining power of the rechargeable battery, and wherein the transceiver, the at least one processor and the at least one memory are enclosed within the portable housing.
A portable in-flight entertainment system for aircraft includes a portable housing, a transceiver for wireless (RF) communication with passenger devices (PEDs), a processor, memory, and a rechargeable battery. The system sends a list of available entertainment content to the PEDs, receives content selection requests, and transmits the selected content to the PEDs. The system monitors the remaining battery power and adjusts the level of service provided to PEDs based on the remaining battery level. The transceiver, processor, and memory are inside the portable housing.
13. The portable in-flight entertainment system of claim 12 , wherein the controlling a level of service, that is provided to at least some of the PEDs for communication of the electronic content, responsive to the remaining power of the rechargeable battery, comprises: reducing bandwidth provided through the transceiver for communicating entertainment content from the at least one memory to at least some of the PEDs responsive to the remaining power of the rechargeable battery no longer satisfying a defined threshold.
The portable in-flight entertainment system controls the level of service provided to passenger devices (PEDs) based on remaining battery power by reducing bandwidth for content communication to some or all devices when the battery level drops below a defined threshold. This manages battery usage based on power availability.
14. The portable in-flight entertainment system of claim 12 , wherein the controlling a level of service, that is provided to at least some of the PEDs for communication of the electronic content, responsive to the remaining power of the rechargeable battery, comprises: reducing the level of service provided to at least some of the PEDs responsive to the remaining power of the rechargeable battery no longer satisfying a defined threshold, by ceasing streaming of video content while continuing to allow downloading of application programs from the at least one memory for execution on the at least some of the PEDs to conserve remaining power of the rechargeable battery.
The portable in-flight entertainment system controls the level of service provided to passenger devices (PEDs) based on remaining battery power by stopping video streaming while still allowing app downloads when the battery drops below a defined threshold. This balances functionality with power conservation.
15. The portable in-flight entertainment system of claim 12 , wherein the controlling a level of service, that is provided to at least some of the PEDs for communication of the electronic content, responsive to the remaining power of the rechargeable battery, comprises: associating the PEDs into a plurality of groups having different priority levels; and reducing the level of service provided to PEDs in one of the groups while keeping unchanged the level of service provided to PEDs in another of the groups responsive to the remaining power of the rechargeable battery no longer satistying a defined threshold.
The portable in-flight entertainment system controls the level of service provided to passenger devices (PEDs) based on remaining battery power by grouping PEDs into priority levels and reducing service for lower-priority groups while maintaining service for higher-priority groups when the battery drops below a threshold. This enables service prioritization based on user categories.
16. The portable in-flight entertainment system of claim 12 , further comprising a pressure altimeter connected to the at least one processor; wherein the computer readable program code causes the at least one processor to perform operations comprising: selectively turning off the transceiver responsive to a signal from the pressure altimeter.
The portable in-flight entertainment system includes a pressure altimeter connected to the processor. The system selectively turns off the transceiver based on a signal from the pressure altimeter. This automates transceiver control based on altitude.
17. The portable in-flight entertainment system of claim 16 , wherein the computer readable program code causes the at least one processor to perform operations comprising: determining an altitude within a cabin of the aircraft, in which the portable in-flight entertainment system resides, responsive to the signal from the pressure altimeter; tracking changes in the altitude; determining a present flight phase responsive to the tracked changes in the altitude; providing power flow from the rechargeable battery to the transceiver responsive to the present flight phase being a first defined flight phase; and ceasing power flow from the rechargeable battery to the transceiver responsive to the present flight phase being a second defined flight phase that is different than the first flight phase.
The portable in-flight entertainment system uses a pressure altimeter to determine cabin altitude, tracks altitude changes to determine flight phase, and controls transceiver power based on flight phase. Power is provided to the transceiver during a first flight phase and stopped during a different second flight phase.
18. The portable in-flight entertainment system of claim 17 , wherein the computer readable program code causes the at least one processor to perform operations comprising: determining when the aircraft has landed responsive to the tracked changes in the altitude; responding to the determination that the aircraft has landed by powering on the transceiver and constraining the PEDs to accessing a reduced subset of the list of at least some of the entertainment content available in the at least one memory while the aircraft remains on the ground after landing and before beginning a takeoff flight phase.
The portable in-flight entertainment system determines when the aircraft has landed by tracking altitude changes. Upon landing, the system powers on the transceiver and restricts passenger devices (PEDs) to accessing a limited set of entertainment content while the aircraft is on the ground before the next takeoff.
19. The portable in-flight entertainment system of claim 17 , further comprising an accelerometer connected to the at least one processor; wherein the computer readable program code causes the at least one processor to perform operations comprising: determining the present flight phase responsive to the tracked changes in the altitude and a signal from the accelerometer.
The portable in-flight entertainment system determines the aircraft's flight phase based on altitude changes (using a pressure altimeter) and acceleration (using an accelerometer). This combines altitude and motion data for improved flight phase detection.
20. The portable in-flight entertainment system of claim 12 , further comprising first and second ones of the portable housing, each comprising the transceiver, the at least one processor, and the at least one memory; wherein the first and second portable housings are spaced apart on the aircraft to create two partially overlapping service areas in which entertainment services are provided to the PEDs; and wherein the computer readable program code in the at least one memory of the first portable housing causes the at least one processor within the first portable housing to perform operations comprising: determining which of the PEDs are located within the overlapping service area of the transceivers of the first and second portable housings; and communicating an assignment message to the transceiver of the second portable housing requesting that the at least one processor of the second portable housing provide entertainment services to defined ones of the PEDs located within the overlapping service area.
The portable in-flight entertainment system includes two portable housings, each containing a transceiver, processor, and memory. The housings are spaced apart in the aircraft, creating overlapping wireless coverage areas. The first housing's processor determines which passenger devices (PEDs) are in the overlapping area and sends a message to the second housing, requesting it to provide entertainment services to specific PEDs in that area. This balances load and manages PED assignments across multiple devices.
21. The portable in-flight entertainment system of claim 20 , wherein the computer readable program code in the at least one memory of the first portable housing causes the at least one processor within the first portable housing to perform operations comprising: generating the assignment message responsive to comparison of received signal strength of RF signals received by the transceivers of the first and second portable housings from the PEDs located within the overlapping service area and/or responsive to known priority levels of the PEDs located within the overlapping service area.
The portable in-flight entertainment system generates the assignment message (from the first entertainment unit to the second) based on comparing the received signal strength from each passenger device (PED) by each unit, and/or based on known priority levels of those PEDs. This uses signal strength and/or priority level to determine which unit handles which PED.
22. The portable in-flight entertainment system of claim 20 , wherein the computer readable program code in the at least one memory of the first portable housing causes the at least one processor within the first portable housing to perform operations comprising: generating the assignment message responsive to comparison of remaining power of the rechargeable batteries of the first and second portable housings.
The portable in-flight entertainment system generates the assignment message (from the first entertainment unit to the second) based on comparing the remaining battery power of the two units. This uses battery level to determine which unit handles which PED.
23. The portable in-flight entertainment system of claim 22 , wherein the generating the assignment message responsive to comparison of remaining power of the rechargeable batteries of the first and second portable housings, comprises: generating the assignment message to reassign at least one of the PEDs that has been provided entertainment services from the at least one processor of the first portable housing to be subsequently provided entertainment services from the at least one processor of the second portable housing responsive to the remaining power of the rechargeable battery of the first portable housing no longer satisfying a defined threshold while the remaining power of the rechargeable battery of the second portable housing continues to satisfy a defined threshold.
The portable in-flight entertainment system reassigns passenger devices (PEDs) from the first entertainment unit to the second entertainment unit if the first unit's battery level drops below a threshold while the second unit's battery level is above a threshold. This offloads PEDs from a low-battery unit to a higher-battery unit.
24. The portable in-flight entertainment system of claim 20 , wherein the computer readable program code in the at least one memory of the first portable housing causes the at least one processor within the first portable housing to perform operations comprising: identifying a set of the PEDs located within the overlapping service area that have requested a same streaming video file of the entertainment content available in the at least one memory of both of the first and second portable housings; and generating the assignment message to cause the at least one processor of the second portable housing to communicate the same streaming video file of the entertainment content from the at least one memory of the second portable housing as a multicast stream to the set of the PEDs.
The portable in-flight entertainment system identifies passenger devices (PEDs) in the overlapping area that have requested the same streaming video file. It then generates an assignment message, causing the second entertainment unit to stream the video to those PEDs using a multicast stream. This optimizes bandwidth for popular content by using multicast streaming from one unit.
25. The portable in-flight entertainment system of claim 12 , further comprising first and second ones of the portable housing, each comprising the transceiver, the at least one processor, and the at least one memory; wherein the computer readable program code in the at least one memory of the first portable housing causes the at least one processor within the first portable housing to perform operations comprising: obtaining from the transceiver of the second portable housing a list of at least some of the entertainment content available in the at least one memory of the second portable housing; comparing content of the list obtained from the transceiver of the second portable housing to a list of at least some of the entertainment content available in the at least one memory of the first portable housing; and communicating entertainment content that is determined to be absent in the at least one memory of the second portable housing and which is present in the at least one memory of the first portable housing responsive to the comparing.
The portable in-flight entertainment system has two entertainment units. The first unit obtains a content list from the second unit, compares the content lists, and then transmits content that's missing on the second unit but present on the first unit to the second unit. This synchronizes content between entertainment units.
26. The portable in-flight entertainment system of claim 1 , further comprising first and second ones of the portable housing, each comprising the transceiver, the at least one processor, and the at least one memory; wherein the first and second portable housings are spaced apart on the aircraft to create two partially overlapping service areas in which entertainment services are provided to the PEDs; and wherein the computer readable program code in the at least one memory of the first portable housing causes the at least one processor within the first portable housing to perform operations comprising: communicating an assignment message to the transceiver of the second portable housing requesting that the at least one processor of the second portable housing provide entertainment services to at least one of the PEDs located within the overlapping service area.
The portable in-flight entertainment system has two portable housings, each containing a transceiver, processor, and memory. The housings are spaced apart, creating overlapping wireless coverage areas. The first housing's processor sends an assignment message to the second housing, requesting it to provide entertainment services to at least one passenger device (PED) located in the overlapping area. This allows one unit to offload work to another.
27. The portable in-flight entertainment system of claim 26 , wherein the computer readable program code in the at least one memory of the first portable housing causes the at least one processor within the first portable housing to further perform operations comprising: generating the assignment message responsive to a known priority level of the at least one of the PEDs located within the overlapping service area.
In the portable in-flight entertainment system, the first unit generates an assignment message based on a known priority level of at least one of the passenger devices (PEDs) located within the overlapping coverage area, requesting that the second unit serve the high-priority PED. This prioritizes service based on user level.
28. The portable in-flight entertainment system of claim 26 , wherein: each of the first and second portable housings comprises a rechargeable battery enclosed within the portable housing that supplies power to the transceiver, the at least one processor, and the at least one memory enclosed within the portable housing; and the computer readable program code in the at least one memory of the first portable housing causes the at least one processor within the first portable housing to further perform operations comprising generating the assignment message responsive to comparison of remaining power of the rechargeable batteries of the first and second portable housings.
In the portable in-flight entertainment system, both entertainment units have their own rechargeable batteries. The first unit generates an assignment message to the second unit based on comparison of remaining battery power between the two units. This balances power consumption between the two units.
29. The portable in-flight entertainment system of claim 28 , wherein: the generating the assignment message responsive to comparison of remaining power of the rechargeable batteries of the first and second portable housings, comprises generating the assignment message to reassign at least one of the PEDs located within the overlapping service area that has been provided entertainment services from the at least one processor of the first portable housing to be subsequently provided entertainment services from the at least one processor of the second portable housing responsive to the remaining power of the rechargeable battery of the first portable housing no longer satisfying a defined threshold while the remaining power of the rechargeable battery of the second portable housing continues to satisfy a defined threshold.
The portable in-flight entertainment system generates an assignment message to reassign passenger devices (PEDs) from the first entertainment unit to the second entertainment unit if the first unit's battery level drops below a threshold while the second unit's battery level is above a threshold. This offloads PEDs from a low-battery unit to a higher-battery unit within the overlapping coverage area.
30. The portable in-flight entertainment system of claim 26 , wherein the computer readable program code in the at least one memory of the first portable housing causes the at least one processor within the first portable housing to perform operations comprising: identifying a set of the PEDs located within the overlapping service area that have requested a same streaming video file of the entertainment content available in the at least one memory of both of the first and second portable housings; and generating the assignment message to cause the at least one processor of the second portable housing to communicate the same streaming video file of the entertainment content from the at least one memory of the second portable housing as a multicast stream to the set of the PEDs.
The portable in-flight entertainment system identifies passenger devices (PEDs) in the overlapping area that have requested the same streaming video file. It then generates an assignment message, causing the second entertainment unit to stream the video to those PEDs using a multicast stream. This optimizes bandwidth by using multicast for popular content served by the second unit.
31. The portable in-flight entertainment system of claim 1 , further comprising first and second ones of the portable housing, each comprising the transceiver, the at least one processor, and the at least one memory; wherein the computer readable program code in the at least one memory of the first portable housing causes the at least one processor within the first portable housing to perform operations comprising: obtaining from the second portable housing a list of at least some of the entertainment content available in the at least one memory of the second portable housing; comparing content of the list obtained from the second portable housing to a list of at least some of the entertainment content available in the at least one memory of the first portable housing; and communicating, through the transceiver of the first portable housing toward the second portable housing, an entertainment content that is determined to be absent in the at least one memory of the second portable housing and which is present in the at least one memory of the first portable housing responsive to the comparing.
The portable in-flight entertainment system has two entertainment units. The first unit obtains a content list from the second unit, compares the content lists, and then transmits content that's missing on the second unit but present on the first unit to the second unit. This synchronizes content from unit 1 to unit 2.
32. The portable in-flight entertainment system of claim 1 , further comprising first and second ones of the portable housing, each comprising the transceiver, the at least one processor, and the at least one memory; wherein the computer readable program code in the at least one memory of the first portable housing causes the at least one processor within the first portable housing to perform operations comprising: obtaining from the second portable housing a list of at least some of the entertainment content available in the at least one memory of the second portable housing; comparing content of the list obtained from the second portable housing to a list of at least some of the entertainment content available in the at least one memory of the first portable housing; and requesting, through the transceiver of the first portable housing from the second portable housing, an entertainment content that is determined to be absent in the at least one memory of the first portable housing and which is present in the at least one memory of the second portable housing responsive to the comparing.
The portable in-flight entertainment system has two entertainment units. The first unit obtains a content list from the second unit, compares the content lists, and then requests content from the second unit that is missing on the first unit but present on the second unit. This synchronizes content by requesting that unit 2 supply missing content to unit 1.
33. The portable in-flight entertainment system of claim 12 , wherein the controlling a level of service, that is provided to at least some of the PEDs for communication of the electronic content, responsive to the remaining power of the rechargeable battery, comprises: ceasing streaming of video content provided to at least some of the PEDs responsive to the remaining power of the rechargeable battery no longer satisfying a defined threshold.
The portable in-flight entertainment system controls the level of service provided to passenger devices (PEDs) based on remaining battery power by stopping video streaming to some or all devices when the battery level drops below a threshold. This reduces power consumption when battery is low.
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January 5, 2016
April 18, 2017
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